Drapery hanger

ABSTRACT

A drapery hanger having a main leg with a lower bight portion with which a hook is integral, the main leg having an upper bight having a clamping leg integral with it, the clamping leg having a barb at its lower end adjacent the main leg.

United States Patent [50] Field of Search 24/84 C, 86 C, 86 W; 160/348, 330

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,820,997 9/1931 Yeidel 24/84 C UX 2,524,403 10/1950 Solomon 24/84 C Primary Examiner-Bernard A. Gelak Attorney-- Lavine, Contor & Reich ABSTRACT: A drapery hanger having a main leg with a lower bight portion with which a hook is integral, the main leg having an upper bight having a clamping leg integral with it, the clamping leg having a barb at its lower end adjacent the main leg.

PATENTEUJmImz 31633251 mvzmoa SADIE GASS BY Giana? 75422, $109,

ATTORNEYS DRAPERY HANGER CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 826,817, filed May 22, 1969.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to a drapery hanger for supporting drapery on a drapery rod.

Drapery hangers are used to provide a connection between drapes and a generally horizontally extending supporting rod. Where draw drapes are provided, the rod has ropes and a movable carrier element which is moved along the rod by the ropes, there also being provided traveler elements which are movable on the rod: the drapery hangers support the drapery and have a hook which extends through a suitable opening in the traveler element. Thus, when the ropes are manipulated, the carrier and the traveler elements are caused to move horizontally, and thereby carry the drapery hangers and the drapes with them. This causes lateral forces to be transmitted into the drapery material, and unless the drapery hangers are securely fastened to the drapery, there is danger that the drapes will be loosened from one or more of the drapery hangers, of which there are, for example, two dozen in each half a single window installation.

Drapery hangers which have heretofore been provided may generally be said to be of two types. A first type has been of a relatively simple construction comprising a single piece of metal wire bent into a suitable shape, generally comprising a main leg, a hook portion for association with the traveler element of the drapery rod, and a portion to engage the drapery material. In one known drapery hanger of this type, the drapery-engaging portion comprises a pair of legs joined at their upper ends by an integral bight portion, these two legs converging together to engage one another so as to clamp the drapery material therebetween, with the lower part of the end leg of these two legs extending in an ofiset manner and being provided at its end with a point which is intended to penetrate the drapery material; the middle leg of this prior art drapery hanger terminates substantially above the noted point of the second or outer leg, being connected by a bight portion with a hook intended to cooperate with a traveler element. This known construction is deficient because the holding of the drapery material by the clamping action of the engaging portions of the two legs is, of itself, too weak to truly support a substantial weight of drapery material, as is the case when the drapes extend a substantial height, as for example, 6 feet or more. The point of this drapery hanger which penetrates the drapery fabric in fact supports, for the most part, the weight of the drapery, but due to the fact that the drapery must be pulled above the end of this upwardly inclined point, and then pulled downwardly in order to have the point penetrate into the fabric and thereby support it, exact adjustment of the fabric height is extremely difficult with this arrangement. In addition, due to the fact that the point or hook does not cooperate with any other part of the drapery hanger, there is danger that during lateral motion of the drapery, the drapery may become disengaged from the point or hook. Another defect of this known construction stems from the offsetting of the lower part of the noted end leg; because of this, the penetrating point is in a vertical plane which is spaced from the plane of the drapery material, it being understood that the point is offset when this drapery hook is not associated with the drape, and is moved away from the plane of the fabric when the fabric is inserted and thereby spreads apart the said par of legs. Consequently, this known construction will require the drapery fabric to be bent on a horizontal line in order to obtain the engagement of the point or hook with the drapery. Hence the assembly operation would require insertion, plus withdrawal motion, plus bending of the fabric.

A second type of drapery hanger has provided in addition to the hook portion for engagement with the drapery rod traveler element a downwardly pointing pin portion which is generally integral with the hook portion, and in addition thereto, a clamp portion for the pin portion, the clamp portion being similar to that of the common safety pin and being made of separate material or being made of portions of the drapery hook itself which have been bent to provide a hook or clamp portion for the drapery hanger pin portion. These constructions generally are more complex, requiring more material to make them, and are therefore more expensive. In addition, this type of drapery hanger is comparatively difficult to manipulate, since it requires that the pin portion be passed through the drapery material, and then hooked, generally in the manner of the common safety pin.

The present invention drapery hanger overcomes the above-noted problems and deficiencies of the prior art, providing a drapery hanger of simple and economical unitary construction which is easily manipulated to fasten it to the drapery material, and which provides for the secure fastening of the drapery material to the drapery hanger. In addition, the present invention drapery hanger provides for such secure connection of the hanger with the drapery fabric that the drapery will not come loose from the drapery hanger, even when lateral forces are imposed by the drawing of the drapes. Further, the present invention drapery hanger provides for precise association and adjustment of the fabric relative to it, with secure attachment within a range of relative positions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention drapery hanger has a relatively long middle leg, with integral bight portions at the upper and lower ends thereof, which extend in opposite directions. Integral with the lower bight portion is a hook portion which is intended to be associated with a drapery rod traveler element. Integral with the upper bight portion is a downwardly extending clamping leg which converges towards the middle leg, and terminates intermediate the ends thereof, this downwardly extending leg having at its lower end a barb directed towards the middle leg. By this construction, the drapery hanger may be passed downwardly over the upper edge of the drapery fabric, spreading apart the middle leg and the last-mentioned leg, with the barb of the last-mentioned leg piercing the drapery fabric when the drapery fabric is in the desired adjusted position, and both penetrating the drapery fabric and clamping it between the middle leg of the drapery hanger and the barb of the leg with which it is integral. This provides for both security of attachment and a range of adjustability for the drapery fabric relative to the drapery hanger, the construction being of a single, integral piece of bent, resilient wire. The middle leg may be straight, or may have an offset near its middle to minimize tangling of the hangers during manufacture and shipping.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is an elevational view of the drapery hanger in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the drapery hanger of FIG. I, and the upper portion of a pleated drape with which it is being associated.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view showing the drapery hanger of the present invention being associated with the upper portion of a drapery fabric.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but showing the drapery hanger of the present invention positioned on the drape.

FIG. 5 is a view on a reduced scale of an alternate embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, wherein like or corresponding reference numerals are used to designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. I a drapery hanger 10 comprising a relatively long and straight middle leg 11 having an integral bight portion 12 at the upper end thereof. A first end or clamping leg I3 is integral with the bight portion 12, and extends generally downwardly, the leg 13 being of lesser length than the middle leg 11. Leg l3 lies adjacent and substantially in the same plane as the leg 11, and converges toward the leg 11, the lower end of leg 13 being urged towards the middle leg 11 by the resiliency of the material of which drapery hanger is fabricated. Preferably, this material is wire made of a resilient metal. At the lower end of leg 13 there is provided a barb 14 which is characterized by an upwardly inclined camming surface 16. The end of barb 14 is in engagement with or is in close adjacency to the surface of the middle leg 11.

At its lower end, the middle leg 11 is provided with an integral bight portion 17, which extends oppositely to the upper bight portion 12. A second end leg 18 is integral with the bight portion 17, and extends upwardly therefrom, generally parallel to the middle leg 11. At its upper end, the second end leg 18 is provided with a hook portion 19 which is intended to be passed through a traveler element of a drapery rod. It will be understood, however, that the present invention drapery hanger 10 may also be used in connection with plain or nontraversing drapery rods, the hook portion 19 simply resting upon and being movable along such a drapery rod.

Referring now to H6. 2, the drapery hanger 10 is shown in association with a drape generally designated 25, and comprising the main drapery portion 26 and a series of spaced pleats 27. As may be seen, the drapery hanger 10 is in position, and is about to be engaged with the drapery 25.

In FIG. 3, the drapery hanger 10 is shown just as it engages the upper edge of the drapery 25, with the barb l4 engaging the upper edge of the drapery fabric 25, the camming surface 16 of the barb 14 being provided to cam open the clamp provided by the legs 11 and 13.

Referring now to FIG. 4, there is shown the drapery hanger 10 of the present invention in position on the drapery 25. The barb 14 has penetrated into the material of drapery 25, and either penetrates completely therethrough, or partially penetrates the drapery material, and clamps the remaining portion of the drapery material between the end of barb l4 and the outer surface of straight middle leg 11. The drapery hanger 10 has been partially inserted or positioned onto the drapery 25, as shown in the full line position, but may be inserted fully as shown in the dotted line position, so that the upper edge of the drapery 25 is in engagement with, or in close proximity to the underside of the upper bight portion 12. Thus, the full supporting action of the present invention drapery hanger 10 is effective, through both penetration and clamping actions, no matter in what position it is desired to position the drapery hanger 10 relative to the drapery 25. There is thereby provided a construction which permits the drapery hanger to be positioned within a range of desirable operative positions in relation to the drapery.

In FIG. 5, an alternate embodiment is shown, comprising a drapery hanger 50 which differs from drapery hanger 10 by providing a relatively long middle leg 51 having an offset portion 55 near its middle, just below and adjacent the barb 54 of end leg 53. This construction enables drapery hangers 50 to be handled loosely during manufacture and shipment with less risk of entanglement than occurs with drapery hanger 10. It also provides improved holding of the drapery on the hanger 50 by providing a more positive engagement of the fabric and the barb 54.

The drapery hanger of the present invention is of simple construction, the parts thereof lying in a single plane, and which drapery hanger is formed from a unitary piece of resilient wire. It is therefore extremely economical to manufacture. Further, the drapery hanger of the present invention provides for both penetrating and clamping engagement of drapery fabric, with ease of insertion of the drapery fabric into the drapery hanger. The drapery fabric may be inserted a desired distance into the space between two legs of the present invention drapery hanger, thereby to provide for adjustment of the upper and lower edges of the drapery. This greatly facilitates the hangin of the drapes in a manner to provide for, for example, a uni orm, planar, bottom edge of the drapes.

When the drapes have been associated with the drapery hanger of the present invention, lateral forces will not cause dislodgement or shifting of the drapery fabric material relative to the drapery hanger of the present invention, due to the secure engagement of the drapery hanger with the drapery fabric.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specification but only as indicated in the appended claims.

Iclaim:

l. A wire-like drapery hanger comprising:

a relatively long middle leg,

an integral bight portion at the upper end of said middle leg,

an end leg integral with said bight portion of lesser length than said middle leg and lying substantially in the plane thereof, substantially adjacent thereto, said end leg hanging at the lower end thereof a barb extending toward said middle leg and substantially adjacent thereto,

a second bight portion integral with said middle leg at the lower end thereof and extending on the opposite side of said middle leg from said first bight portion,

a second end leg integral with said second bight portion extending upwardly and downwardly opening hook means integral and contiguous with the upper end of said end leg for engaging a support element for said hanger.

2. The drapery hanger of claim 1, said first mentioned end leg converging toward said middle leg.

3. The drapery hanger of claim 1, said barb having a lower surface which is upwardly directed.

4. The drapery hanger of claim 1, said second end leg lying in the plane of said first end leg and said middle leg.

5. The drapery hanger of claim 1, said second end leg being generally parallel to said middle leg.

6. The drapery hanger of claim 1, said barb lying intermediate said upper and lower bight portions.

7. The drapery hanger of claim 1, said drapery hanger comprising an integral piece of resilient material.

8. The drapery hanger of claim 1, said middle leg being straight.

9. The drapery hanger of claim 1, said middle leg having an off-set portion near its middle below and adjacent said barb. 

1. A wire-like drapery hanger comprising: a relatively long middle leg, an integral bight portion at the upper end of said middle leg, an end leg integral with said bight portion of lesser length than said middle leg and lying substantially in the plane thereof, substantially adjacent thereto, said end leg hanging at the lower end thereof a barb extending toward said middle leg and substantially adjacent thereto, a second bight portion integral with said middle leg at the lower end thereof and extending on the opposite side of said middle leg from said first bight portion, a second end leg integral with said second bight portion extending upwardly and downwardly opening hook means integral and contiguous with the upper end of said end leg for engaging a support element for said hanger.
 2. The drapery hanger of claim 1, said first mentioned end leg converging toward said middle leg.
 3. The drapery hanger of claim 1, said barb having a lower surface which is upwardly directed.
 4. The drapery hanger of claim 1, said second end leg lying in the plane of said first end leg and said middle leg.
 5. The drapery hanger of claim 1, said second end leg being generally parallel to said middle leg.
 6. The drapery hanger of claim 1, said barb lying intermediate said upper and lower bight portions.
 7. The drapery hanger of claim 1, said drapery hanger comprising an integral piece of resilient material.
 8. The drapery hanger of claim 1, said middle leg being straight.
 9. The drapery hanger of claim 1, said middle leg having an off-set portion near its middle below and adjacent said barb. 